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enMoyes keen for Sociedad to sign Burnleys IngsBurnley striker Danny Ings is a transfer target for Real Sociedad, head coach David Moyes has confirmed.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/moyes-keen-sociedad-sign-ings
Real Sociedad head coach David Moyes has declared an interest in signing Danny Ings, but is unsure whether he will be able to lure the Burnley striker to the Anoeta Stadium.
Ings-who netted 25 times in all competitions last term as the Lancashire club clinched promotion to the Premier League - is a free agent in the close-season as he enters the final few months of the four-year deal he agreed in August 2011.
A return of eight goals in 21 Premier League appearances in 2014-15 has prompted calls for the 22-year-old to be handed a first England call-up and sparked reported interest from the likes of Sociedad, Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle United.
Moyes has publicly spoken of his admiration for the youngster, and suggested more British players should follow in his footsteps by attempting to make a name for themselves overseas.
"Danny Ings is somebody who I think has done really well and is somebody who anybody would like to have," the former Manchester United boss told BBC Radio 5 live.
"Will we be able to attract him here? I don't know, but the British market I know because that's where I've come from and I think there's players there who it would help them, it would help their profile, it'd be great for many of them to go to Spain and try it."
At Sociedad, Moyes is trying to rebuild his reputation following his ill-fated 10-month spell in charge at Old Trafford.
The Scot masterminded a famous victory over Barcelona last month, but has struggled to find any consistency.
While Moyes is relishing life in La Liga, he readily concedes that the language barrier has posed issues.
He added: "It's something that I'm desperately keen to improve, my Spanish. I've got two Spanish lessons a week at the moment and I'm enjoying them.
"But it is difficult to communicate at times. I've got interpreters, but look at Mauricio Pochettino, it took him a while at Southampton to get his English correct. And there's been other managers were it has taken a little longer as well."
On his first three months in charge at Sociedad, Moyes said: "I'm really enjoying it. It's been a change, something I've always wanted to do.
"I always thought it was important that British managers try and go abroad instead of us always importing foreign managers on to our shores. This job came up and it seemed a good fit for me."
news_articleMon, 09 Feb 2015 21:42:41 +0000340721 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comMoyes: Chips banned as some United players fatDavid Moyes has told FFT he prohibited chips at Manchester United because he felt some of the players were overweight.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/moyes-chips-banned-because-some-united-players-were-fat
Moyes came in for criticism following his sacking last April, with former United centre-back Rio Ferdinand critical of the Scot's decision to clear chips of the menu.
Eating low-fat chips had been a ritual under Sir Alex Ferguson prior to Moyes' arrival in Manchester.
Moyes - now in charge of La Liga outfit of Real Sociedad - has opened up about the decision to scrap chips in an exclusive interview in the March 2015 issue of FourFourTwo, claiming some of his players were fat.
"Yes, I did ban chips," said Moyes, who only lasted 10 months of his six-year contract at the Old Trafford giants.
"It was because a couple of players were overweight and I didn't think chips were good for their diet."
Moyes also admitted that he was disappointed with the reception he received when United travelled to Goodison Park in 2013/14.
After 11 years as manager at Everton, Moyes returned to a chorus of boos on Merseyside as United crashed to a 2-0 defeat against his former club.
Moyes, who was sacked just days after that loss, said: "I wasn't surprised, because I know how supporters react and I had left their club. But I was disappointed.
"I got Everton competing at the top end of the league with a mid-table budget. I gave everything I could in trying to make Everton the best I could. It was a long process but we did it -my staff, my players and others at the club.
"We had some glorious nights at Goodison and the fans were superb. I've got huge affection for Everton, it was my life for over a decade."
Read the full One-on-One interview with David Moyes in theMarch 2015 issue of FourFourTwo, available now, in which he spills the beans on banning chips at Old Trafford and picking a fight with Duncan Ferguson. The magazine also tells the tale of Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez, meets super agent Jorge Mendes and watches non-league's new moneymen, AFC Fylde and Barrow, face off.Subscribe!
SEE ALSOMoyes: It's not easy to get a good cup of tea in Spain
SEE ALSOMoyes: I turned down Arsenal before joining Cambridge United
news_articleThu, 05 Feb 2015 06:05:49 +0000337717 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comMoyes: I turned down Arsenal for CambridgeDavid Moyes has told FourFourTwo how he could have joined Arsenal instead of Cambridge United early in his playing career.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/moyes-i-turned-down-arsenal-cambridge
The former Preston North End, Everton and Manchester United manager, now in charge of Real Sociedad in Spain, started out as a centre-back for Celtic in 1980, making 24 league appearances in three years with the Bhoys.
Moyes would later ply his trade for Cambridge, Bristol City, Shrewsbury, Dunfermline, Hamilton Academical and Preston before beginning his coaching career with the latter at Deepdale. However, things might have turned out much differently had he opted to join the Gunners in 1983.
Asked in a One-on-One interview in the March 2015 issue of FourFourTwo if it's true he came close to moving to Highbury instead of the Abbey Stadium, the Scot said: "It is. When I tell people they start laughing.
"Cambridge were in what's now the Championship. Arsenal manager Terry Neill called me at my house in Glasgow and told me they were going to sign me, but a week later, they called back and said: 'we've decided to take you on loan'.
"I wasn't having that, leaving Celtic to go on loan, so I turned it down. Arsenal went on to buy the late Tommy Caton instead. I joined Cambridge and played every week, which I wasn't doing at Celtic."
Moyes played in 79 league games for the U's - scoring once - as Cambridge finished bottom of Division Two in 1984 and bottom of Division Three a year later. Although he has no regrets, Moyes still wonders 'what if' he had joined the Gunners.
"We were relegated two years in a row at Cambridge before I moved to Bristol City. That league had Newcastle United in it, with Kevin Keegan and Chris Waddle, and Chelsea, with Kerry Dixon and David Speedie. It was a really tough league and Cambridge were the smallest club in the division - as they would be now.
"We went down and there was a chain reaction which couldn't be stopped and we went down again. I played nearly 600 games in my career and it was varied through the divisions. That helps me as a coach and I wouldn't change it, though maybe I should have said yes to Arsenal."
Read the full One-on-One interview with David Moyes in theMarch 2015 issue of FourFourTwo, available now, in which he spills the beans on banning chips at Old Trafford and picking a fight with Duncan Ferguson. The magazine also tells the tale of Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez, meets super agent Jorge Mendes and watches non-league's new moneymen, AFC Fylde and Barrow, face off. Subscribe!
SEE ALSO Moyes: It's not easy to get a good cup of tea in Spain
SEE ALSOMoyes: I banned chips as some United players were overweight
news_articleWed, 04 Feb 2015 15:00:00 +0000Gregg Davies337241 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comIn the mag: The tale of Alexis Sanchez, Jorge Mendes unmasked, tea with MoyeseyThis month, FFT charts the rise of one of the Premier Leagues biggest stars, explores the history of arguably the most powerful man in the game, and goes to Spain for a cuppa with David Moyes. Available in print and on iPad from February 4...http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/mag-tale-alexis-sanchez-jorge-mendes-unmasked-tea-moyesey
As the transfer window 'slams shut' and we move towards the 'business end' of the season, it's as good a time as any to tell the tale of the game's key figures.
With fire in his belly and thunder in his boots, Alexis Sanchez's journey from remotest Chile to the bright lights of London has been remarkable. FFT reveals how a media-shy homeboy became the main man in N5.
He's the super agent pulling the strings of the transfer market, determining the fortunes of the world's top players and clubs. But just who is Jorge Mendes? FourFourTwo investigates...
If you thought football and the theatre could never be bedfellows, think again. From ballet to musicals, the West End to Barnsley, the beautiful game is treading the boards. Encore!
David Moyes is certainly a contented man. It's barely two months since he took charge at Real Sociedad, or La Real, as Moyes correctly calls them, when FFT pops over for One-on-One chat and a cup of tea - something, Moysie tells us, that isn't too easy to find in San Sebastian.The Scot spills the beans on his playing career, his 10 years at Everton and his spell at Old Trafford.
AFC Fylde and Barrow are two recently-minted non-league minnows harbouring some big ambitions. The monied Northern Premier League pair are both aiming for the Football League, but first they must face each other. FFT is there to start charting the rise...
Waddle and Hoddle aside, the British invasion of France in the late '80s was a tale of sweary WAGs, beer and clashes with a certain Eric Cantona. Some of the men who hopped the Channel tell us how life in France was not always particularly glamorous...
One of five Brazil internationals at Paris Saint-Germain, 20-year-old Marquinhos is keen to see more high-profile arrivals as he aims to establish himself at the top level for club and country. FFT speaks to the defender.
Clubs don't just throw these things together y'know. FFT looks back at the hard graft that went into creating some of the English game's most iconic venues, from death-defying scaffolders to enormous avian artefacts...
We also assess the ever-changing role of the full-back, compile all the brain-melting stats you'll need for the return of the Champions League, get Liverpool hero Luis Garcia's Perfect XI, speak to the keeper who was signed and released on the same day, and receive proPerformancetips from Robbie Keane and Marco Verratti.
The March 2015 issue of FourFourTwo was brought to you by... Luiz Adriano, Eric Black, Terry Butcher, Maximilian Beister, Franz Burgmeier, Aurelien Collin, Tony Cottee, Preben Elkjaer, Luis Garcia, Ricky Hill, Andy Hinchcliffe, Robbie Keane, Kevin Kilbane, Marquinhos, Mick McCarthy, David Moyes, Joe Nasco, Markus Neumayr, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Pavel Pergl, Gareth Southgate, Marco Verratti, Mark Warburton, Norman Whiteside, Owain Fon Williams and Zico. Available from Wednesday February 4 in print and in a specially-designed-for-iPad version.
Subscribe nowand receive future issues through your letterbox.
featureTue, 03 Feb 2015 19:00:00 +0000James Maw336737 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comCahill rejected late Moyes, Sociedad offerTim Cahill revealed there was a late offer from David Moyes club Real Sociedad before he decided to join Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/cahill-rejected-moyes-sociedad
Just days after helping Australia lift the Asian Cup, Cahill announced on Tuesday in Sydney he was heading to China after parting ways with MLS club New York Red Bulls.
Australia's leading goalscorer had offers from all over the world including England, Spain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and China.
But after speaking to some influential people over the last 24 hours, he decided Shanghai was the best place for the next stage of his illustrious career.
"I've been on the phone to [former Everton manager and Real Sociedad boss] David Moyes, I spoke with [former Arsenal and New York striker] Thierry Henry and also the chairman Bill Kenright at Everton and [Australia coach] Ange [Postecoglou] this morning," Cahill said on Fox Sports.
"I've made the decision purely because I've played in the Premier League and did really well and it was a massive compliment to get the phone calls I did last night and to speak to Moyes about possibly going to La Liga.
"I've done the Premier League, I've done America. New York was amazing for me...[but] China is a growing market in football.
"You see in the [Asian Cup quarter-final] that we played against China, millions of people watched it and I'm someone who is embracing culture and a different aspect of life.
"I'm at an age where I want to give something back to football and still play at a high level...it's all about doing what I want to do as footballer and trying different leagues and I think it's exciting.
"To still be in demand and have the offers I've had is special but this will be massive for me as a player on and off the park."
Cahill said he had talks with Sydney FC officials after last year's World Cup"but as far as offers, there was nothing".
"I can openly say that [Sydney FC CEO] Tony Pignata is a gentleman, he did reach out after the World Cup but realistic offers there were none," the 35-year-old said.
"I'm an ambassador for Australia and I want to make sure the kids know I'm following my dreams.
"To know I could have gone back to the Premier League, La Liga and things like that…everyone talks about money and things like that but I'm at a different stage of my career."
Having played at three World Cups and helping Australia win their first major piece of silverware at the Asian Cup, there are some suggestions Cahill may opt bow out of international football on a high.
Cahill has previously claimed he could keep representing his country until the 2018 World Cup but when asked about his international future on Tuesday, he appeared to hint at a reduced role for Australia's national team.
"My plans will be to support the boss [Postecoglou]," Cahill said.
"My vision for the last 14 months was to be a team player. It's never been about me.
"The boss knows my plans for the national team. I'm always there for him on and off the park. I'll always leave that decision to him, someone who has changed the footprint of football in Australia."
Cahill was adamant his decision to head to China was not a financial one but more about helping to grow the game in that highly developing market.
"I've never, ever chased the money. If I did I would have been in Qatar or China four years ago," he said.
"I'll make an impact in China, I promise you, on the pitch.
"China is a growing market in football. I'm somebody that embraces culture and different aspects of life. I asked for grass roots. I asked for a project. I asked for a vision.
"I sat with my two boys and I told them about China...the cultural differences, where we're going to be living. They're excited."
news_articleTue, 03 Feb 2015 00:51:27 +0000336347 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comMoyes: Tricky getting a good cup of tea in SpainReal Sociedad boss David Moyes has told FFT how enjoying a cup of tea has proved a significant challenge since relocating to Spain.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/moyes-tricky-getting-good-cup-tea-spain
The 51-year-old has been in charge of the San Sebastian side since November following the end of a frustrating 10-month tenure at Manchester United.
Asked in a One-on-One interview with FourFourTwo to name items he gets people to bring over, he admitted: "Tea bags. It's not easy to get a good cup of tea.
"My assistant, Billy McKinlay, has brought a kettle over so we can have a cup of tea after training. I'm not sure all my players know what it is, as most Spanish households don't have kettles. Billy and I talk about Walkers shortbread and I was sent some Irn-Bru, which I appreciated."
Moyes has won just four and drawn six of his 13 games at the helm of the Anoeta outfit, enjoying a 1-0 victory over Barcelona in January, and takes his team to Real Madrid's iconic Santiago Bernabeu stadium this weekend.
The former Preston and Everton manager is continuing to adjust to life on the Spanish coast, and revealed he is undertaking language lessons twice a week.
"I have two lessons a week with an English lad who is a Spanish teacher and I'm really enjoying them," he said. "I'm not saying that I'll ever be fluent, but I want to be able to communicate."
Read the full One-on-One interview with David Moyes in the March 2015 issue of FourFourTwo, available from February 4, in which he spills the beans on banning chips at Old Trafford, turning down Arsenal for Cambridge, picking a fight with Duncan Ferguson and choosing to manage in La Liga over the Premier League.
SEE ALSO Moyes: I banned chips as some United players were overweight
SEE ALSO Moyes: I turned down Arsenal before joining Cambridge United
news_articleFri, 30 Jan 2015 17:30:00 +0000Gregg Davies334108 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comLa Liga Lessons: Moyes takes step backwards as big guns make things boringTim Stannardrounds up the weekend past from Spain, as the former Manchester United chiefs Real Sociedad lose at home...Tim Stannardhttp://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/la-liga-lessons-moyes-takes-step-backwards-big-guns-make-things-boring
Normally an easily excitable La Liga Loca likes to bill a weekend in La Liga as a complete humdinger; a total rumpus of fun. But, considering all top six teams won this weekend, with only Valencia letting the sides down a little by conceding, there wasn't too much else to speak of, aside from some mixed fortunes in the Basque Country. But don’t let that stop you having a delve into some funny business taking place in Iberia...
Atlético show title-winning traits
And that’s how they won the title last season and got all the way to the Champions League final without breaking into too much of a sweat. Beating teams 2-0 and doing just enough to get by in the game whether it be through a set-piece, penalty or someone’s knee. The win over Granada – a game wedged between an exhausting cup victory over Real Madrid and another match to come against Barça – was pure energy conservation, though a lot was spent, of course, as is Atlético Madrid’s way.
Atletico Madrid 2-0 Granada on Stats Zone
Real Madrid find beatable city rival
“The power of a champion!” boomed Marca as it oozed over Real Madrid’s 3-0 victory against the mighty Getafe in the Coliseum. At last, the league runners-up have found a rival in the city that doesn't give them as much trouble as a certain Atlético Madrid.
LLL must begrudgingly give Cristiano Ronaldo a wee bit of praise for a couple of poacher’s efforts to give him a ridiculous 28 for the season, although only one more than Leo Messi from open play if you take away some Portuguese penalties. Sorry, the blog just couldn’t help itself with the mean stick.
Elsewhere, Karim Benzema awoke from a winter’s hibernation for a lovely assist and Gareth Bale scored his customary second effort when all the hard work in the game has already been done by Ronaldo.
Getafe 0-3 Real Madrid on Stats Zone
Barça move on from Xavi dependency
Of course, Messi was leading the way with all the goalscoring against Deportivo – not the toughest of pursuits this season – but Ivan Rakitic was the fella pulling his Argentine toggle. Metaphorically speaking, as they say.
It looks like Luis Enrique has benefited from an injury to Xavi that forced his hand in promoting the ex-Sevilla playmaker, a voluntary move that has always been troublesome for managers of Barca past and present.
Another point which is largely overlooked – normally by an unobservant and bandwagon-jumping LLL – is that Barcelona’s defence is in good shape at the moment, with just nine goals conceded in 19 games. Indeed, Claudio Bravo in goal has as many clean sheets this season than Sergio Ramos’s bedroom has witnessed since turning 16, the grand total of 10.
Deportivo 0-4 Barcelona on Stats Zone
Valencia: definitely watch this space
You can take Valencia out of a crisis, but you can’t take a crisis out of Valencia. The team may well be on a more stable institutional footing with Peter Lim as the owner, but an awful lot remains the same about this most endearing of clubs.
The mighty men from Mestalla are only ever a blind corner away from disaster. Last week's Copa del Rey exit saw them enter panic mode, with newly-renewed coach Nuno warning that Champions League qualification is a must. “We are focusing on just one objective, no excuses,” said the Portuguese coach.
This means that every game is a going to have a feeling of panic to it, as perfectly encapsulated by the Almería clash where Valencia twice took the lead only to have the opposition equalising within minutes. Fortunately, Alvaro Negredo was on hand towards the end to see Valencia swerve away from another kerfuffle. Just.
Valencia 3-2 Almeria on Stats Zone
Eibar are made from strong stuff
Eibar are continuing to show that they are made from big brass Basque girders. 1-0 down after 10 seconds and down to 10 men, this most sizzling of sides still managed to grind out a 1-1 against Córdoba. Eibar have now only lost three times on their travels in La Liga this season, with two of those games being against Atlético and Barcelona, so not exactly inexcusable.
Cordoba 1-1 Eibar on Stats Zone
Athletic Bilbao. Oh dear...
LLL asked on Friday if Athletic’s season was about to get considerably worse. The answer was undeniably in the positive. Not even Aritz Aduriz playing could save the Basque club’s skins against a hyper-vibrant Villarreal. Athletic have now lost four league games in a row with just the single goal scored to leave the team three points above the relegation zone. “We have not managed our three competitions well,” admitted poor Ernesto Valverde, whose job is still quite safe at least.
Villarreal 2-0 Athletic Bilbao on Stats Zone
Moyes takes a step back at Real Sociedad
Rayo Vallecano are such a random club. It really is impossible to gauge from one match to the next what the Madrid side are going to get up to. No wonder La Real were a little befuddled. That and a complete inability to score goals, with just 19 for the season so far, compared to 36 at the same point last year.
The baffling point for David Moyes is that, aside from the still-scoring Carlos Vela, the Real Sociedad side is stuffed with attacking goodies. It’s just that the Scotsman is still trying to find a way to harness them.
Real Sociedad 0-1 Rayo Vallecano on Stats Zone
featureTue, 20 Jan 2015 14:55:00 +0000Joe Brewin327641 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comMoyes handed ban after midweek sending offReal Sociedad boss David Moyes has been handed a two-match touchline ban after his sending-off in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/moyes-handed-touchline-ban-after-midweek-sending
David Moyes will not be on the touchline for Real Sociedad's La Liga clash with Rayo Vallecano on Saturday after being handed a two-matchban.
The Scot was sent to the standsduring the second leg of Sociedad's Copa del Rey tie with Villarreal on Wednesday, as a 2-2 draw saw Moyes' men go down 3-2 on aggregate.
Moyes was ordered out of the dugout by referee Carlos Velascowith seven minutes remaining at Anoeta,after arguing with the officials over an offside decision.
The 51-year-old took his place in the stands alongsidefansfor the closing moments of the match, and was seen eating crisps with a section of the home support.
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) handed theirpunishment down to Moyes on Friday, handing him a one-match ban for his dismissal and an additional suspension for scaling a pitch-side fence and climbing into the stands.
He will therefore be unable to take a place on the touchline for Sociedad'smeetingswith Vallecano and Eibar.
news_articleFri, 16 Jan 2015 19:41:15 +0000325453 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comMoyes dreaming of taking Real to Copa del Rey finalDavid Moyes is dreaming of taking Real Sociedad to the Copa del Rey final, but admits avoiding relegation is his main priority.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/moyes-dreaming-copa-del-rey-final
Sociedad have a 1-0 first leg deficit to overturn against Villarreal at Anoeta on Wednesday in the last 16 of a competition they have not won since 1987.
Moyes has not claimedany major silverware in his 16 years in management and the Scot is eager to change that, though preserving Sociedad's La Liga status is his primary focus as the side sit just three points above the drop zone.
"If possible I'd love to get to a final for the supporters and if we get to the cup final it will be fantastic," the coach said.
"I think we should be realistic but our hopes, our dreams are that we can get to the final.
"When I took the job there was a risk of relegation and there's still a risk of relegation."
Sociedad sit 12th in a congested bottom half of the table and have back-to-back home league matches after the visit of Villarreal, with Rayo Vallecano and Eibar up next.
news_articleTue, 13 Jan 2015 21:46:27 +0000323448 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comMoyes: Januzaj has the characteristics of CruyffFormer Manchester United manager David Moyes has told FourFourTwo how Adnan Januzaj reminds him of Johan Cruyff.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/moyes-januzaj-has-characteristics-cruyff
The Scottish boss lasted just 10 months in the Old Trafford hotseat after succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, winning 27 and losing 15 of his 52 matches.
But Moyes, now coaching in Spain with La Liga side Real Sociedad, was responsible for introducing Brussels-born starlet Januzaj to the Red Devils' first team.
Making a brief appearance in the season-opening Community Shield against Wigan in August, the talented teenager would go on to make 35 appearances in all competitions in 2013/14, scoring four goals, before starting for Belgium against South Korea at the World Cup.
Speaking exclusively in the February 2015 of FourFourTwo, Moyes reveals how he needed just "minutes" to decide he was good enough to take on pre-season.
"Some youngsters get overawed. Not Adnan. I realised that when he came to train with the first team soon after I joined," he says.
"I decided to take him on tour with the first team within minutes of watching him. He wasn't timid, but hungry to succeed. He was one of the tour's bright spots.
"He possesses a level of self-assured arrogance, which is a positive, as he's not tooarrogant. On the contrary, he's a bright lad who is mature for his age.
"He's a wonderfully gifted player with great balance and the ability to go past people. When I see his poise on the ball, he has characteristics of Johan Cruyff."
Read the full interview with David Moyes in the February 2015 issue of FourFourTwo, which hails the globe's finest 23 players under 23 and features exclusive chats with Ross Barkley, Mario Gotze, Koke, Antoine Griezmann, Marco Verratti, Marquinhos, Aymeric Laporte and Ryan Gauld. Plus, FFT goes One-on-One with Alan Shearer, meets the joint-managers with a difference at Whitstable Town and asks Adebayo Akinfenwa some silly questions. Available from Wednesday January 7.
news_articleTue, 06 Jan 2015 13:15:00 +0000Gregg Davies318717 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comMoyes looking to British market during JanuaryReal Sociedad manager David Moyes says he will look to the British market to add to his squad during the January transfer window.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/moyes-looking-british-market
Moyes was appointed as Sociedad boss in November after an ill-fated tenure at Manchester United.
From his six La Liga games in charge, the club have claimed two victories, three draws and a defeat- with their most recent outing resulting in an impressive 1-0 home success over Barcelona on Sunday.
Moyes has also overseen progression to the last 16 of the Copa del Rey, but with Sociedad still just four points above the drop zone in the league, Moyes is targeting some new acquisitions.
And with 16 years' worth of managerial experience at Preston North End, Everton and United, Moyes has suggested he will utilise the market he is most familiar with.
"If there's one market I know best at the moment then it's the British market," hetoldSky Sports.
"That's not to say the only players we would look to bring in would be from the UK. We've got our own scouting network working in Spain and abroad.
"I'd like to add one or two to the squad, but on loan if it can be done. I've got one or two in mind and maybe some from back home who would like the opportunity to come and play in Spain.
"You never know. January is never a great time for transfers. It can be difficult. If they're the right ones to add I'd be keen to bring them in."
news_articleTue, 06 Jan 2015 09:06:07 +0000318618 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comMoyes: Tough to plot Barcelonas downfallReal Sociedad coach David Moyes conceded he could barely believe his team defeated Barcelona 1-0 in La Liga on Sunday.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/tough-plot-barcas-downfall-moyes
Jordi Alba's own goal in just the second minute eventually gave Sociedad victory in San Sebastian as they held on against Barcelona.
Moyes compared the feeling in the lead-up to Sunday's clash to his time with Everton in the Premier League, claiming that it is difficult to spot weaknesses with Barcelona.
"The win feels similar to the early days at Everton," he said at his post-match media conference.
"How was I ever going to get a result against the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Man United at that time?"
The Scot added: "We've talked about Barcelona at my past clubs, at Everton and at Manchester United. I've watched them with admiration and we used to wonder how to possibly get a result against them.
"Tonight I had the opportunity. It was a long night, we scored early and I would like to have given them a harder game. We did make it very difficult for them, though.
"I would like to be competing against Barca, Real Madrid, Atletico, Valencia and Sevilla at the top of the league. To do that we have to make the squad stronger."
Barcelona had 69 per cent possession at the Estadio Municipal de Anoeta, while the visitors took 12 shots to Sociedad's five, prompting Moyes to praise his defenders.
"We worked hard defensively and defending is a big part of football," he said.
"You don't win games if you don't defend well. The way that we played at the back gave us the chance to win this game."
The victory saw Sociedad move up three positions to 13th in La Liga with 18 points, while Barca missed the chance to overhaul Real Madrid - who lost 2-1 at Valencia - at the top of the table.
That missed opportunity prompted criticism of Barcelona coach Luis Enrique, who chose to start Lionel Messi and Neymar on the bench, but Moyes backed the decision of his counterpart from the Catalan capital.
"I expected Neymar and Messi to maybe be on the bench," Moyes said.
"I've managed a very big club, you have a big squad and a lot of games. The big games come later for these teams - April time - and you have to give the big players rest to keep them fresh for then.
"I thought Luis Enrique made the right decision and the players that played tonight are really good players. He knows his squad the best and in his position I would probably have done the same thing."
news_articleMon, 05 Jan 2015 00:15:03 +0000317786 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comSuarez and Moyes linked by the will to winPaul Wilkes reports on old enemies joined by an unlikely bond...Paul Wilkeshttp://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/suarez-and-moyes-linked-will-win
When Luis Suarez left the Premier League for Spain last summer, he certainly wouldn't have expected to bump into his nemesis David Moyes. But the former Manchester United manager will welcome Barcelona this Sunday. The relationship between the two personalities is complex, but is perhaps best illustrated by their comparable will to win.
The Uruguayan's deliberate last-minute goal-line handball in the 2010 World Cup quarter-final against Ghana left many pundits and journalists perplexed by the injustice of the act – even though Suarez was punished within the laws of the game with a red card and a one-match ban, with Asamoah Gyan missing the resultant penalty and Uruguay subsequently triumphing via a shootout.
Asked as the then-Everton manager if he would expect his players to do the same as Suarez, Moyes had no such moral concern. "Yes," he replied simply at a press conference in Sydney. "If there's a chance [of staying in the game] by handballing it – he knows he's going to get sent off, but there is a second chance."
Diving into trouble
Back on Merseyside, his support for Suarez didn't last long. In the October 2011 city derby, Jack Rodwell was sent off for a tackle on Suarez; in the run-up to the October 2012 rematch at Goodison, Moyes called it "a dive and a really poor decision by the referee. It ruined the game."
Asked if he feared a repeat incident, he replied: "I do because I think he [Suarez] has got history. But I'm not the referee. What it will do is turn the supporters away from football because they [players who dive] are very good at it."
There's no doubting the South American has been known to make the most of a challenge, although the tackle by Rodwell was a strange one to label a dive. Although the red card was rescinded by the FA, on that occasion Suarez appeared to be trying to avoid contact through self-preservation.
The comments backfired on Moyes as a Suarez shot was deflected into the net by Leighton Baines. The Uruguayan promptly dived in front of the Glaswegian, instantly becoming one of the most notable celebrations in Merseyside derby history.
"I thought [the celebration] was great," said Moyes after the match. "I actually quite liked that. It’s the sort of thing I might have done if we’d scored at the end." However, he didn't look particularly pleased at the time and his daughter Lauren tweeted: "Very surprised my dad didn’t just nut Suarez."
In his new autobiography Crossing The Line, Suarez said: "He had motivated me. It always motivates me when a manager criticises me or speaks out of turn. I thought: 'How can you say that about a player who is trying to win, just like you are, and before the game has even started?"
Moyes' embarrassment was made worse by his captain Phil Neville receiving a yellow card in the same match for simulation. "It was a stupid thing to do," admitted Neville. Moyes agreed: "I said to him it is completely wrong, you don’t do that and hopefully he won’t do that again."
Suarez would continue to cause Moyes problems, scoring on four of the six occasions he faced the Scotsman's teams. Even when Moyes moved to Manchester United the Uruguayan popped up with Liverpool's third goal in the 84th minute of a humiliating Old Trafford defeat that did as much as anything to hasten the Scotsman's exit.
Striking problems
Since arriving at the Anoeta, Moyes has won only one of his five league matches and the team has struggled to maintain intensity throughout a whole 90 minutes. In fairness to the Scot, the club has disappointed throughout the campaign, although before he arrived they had shown their appetite for the big games by beating Atletico and Real Madrid.
A positive result against Barcelona would be a huge boost for Moyes, although no supporter will judge him on the strength of the display. The focus will be on more winnable fixtures, as Granada, Rayo Vallecano and Eibar await La Real before a trip to the Bernabeu at the start of February.
Real Sociedad have had striker problems, with Imanol Agirretxe out injured since the end of November. The team has had to rely on Carlos Vela for goals, but he's best suited to playing a supporting role. Icelandic forward Alfred Finnbogason has failed to convince, even if he did score twice against Real Oviedo in the Copa del Rey. Moyes has tried handing a debut to 20-year-old Iker Hernandez.
Suarez's four-month ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini means that he's only just finding his rhythm at the Camp Nou. He scored his first league goal just before the winter break in the win over 19th-placed Cordoba. Barcelona as a team are struggling to create balance, but that may benefit Suarez with more emphasis on the attacking trio.
"I’m not scoring much at the moment, but I’m sure that with help from my colleagues, the goals will come," admits Suarez. It's his team-mates that are profiting from his work rate, as he has six assists across La Liga and the Champions League.
On Moyes' part there appears to be a grudging respect of the forward who's willing to do absolutely anything to come out on top. He may be a little more diligent with his words before this fixture, but Suarez will still feel the me-against-them motivation that inspires him.
Preview, follow and analyse Real Sociedad vs Barcelona with Stats Zone
featureFri, 02 Jan 2015 15:24:26 +0000Gary Parkinson316298 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comMcKinlay named Moyes assistant at SociedadReal Sociedad coach David Moyes has appointed fellow Scot Billy McKinlay as his assistant at the Liga club.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/mckinlay-named-moyes-assistant
Former Scotland midfielder McKinlay has been out of work since being sacked by Championship side Watford afteronly two games in charge.
The 45-year-old will now link up with new Sociedad boss Moyes, who took over in San Sebastian earlier this month and secured a goalless draw in his first game in charge against Deportivo La Coruna last weekend.
McKinlay was employed as assistant coach of Northern Ireland before taking over as Watford manager.
He also spent time on the coaching staff at Fulham and was appointed as jointcaretakermanager of the London club before Roy Hodgson took over at Craven Cottage.
news_articleThu, 27 Nov 2014 20:27:08 +0000295040 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comBig Weekend Preview: Messi’s malaise, a Valencia tiff and Moyess UnpronounceablesTim Stannardlooks ahead to a very, very, very exciting weekend in La Liga...Tim Stannardhttp://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/big-weekend-preview-messis-malaise-valencia-tiff-and-moyess-unpronounceables
LLL has tinglies. LLL is expecting big things of the weekend in La Primera. The blog cannot be entirely sure what will go down, but there is certainly a huge potential for some headline-grabbing antics.
An Eibar bus parked in front of their goal might thwart a rampant Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo. Leo Messi might break the all-time scoring record in La Liga before announcing his departure from Barcelona. And David Moyes could show how he has turned Real Sociedad around in a week-and-a-half with a thrashing of Deportivo. Come on La Liga. Don’t let us down.
How much will Real Madrid miss Luka Modric?
“Not at all” or “seriously, not at all”?
Such is the plumpness of the Real Madrid squad this season, that arguably ever player except penalty-taker extraordinaire Cristiano Ronaldo can drop out of action without too much kerfuffle. Indeed, Madrid actually have gotten better without Gareth Bale about. Keylor Navas can swoop in for Iker Casillas, Raphael Varane for Pepe and so on and so on.
In place of Modric (out for two to three months), Carlo Ancelotti can call upon Asier Illarramendi, Sami Khedira or even the versatile Isco. It would be a cliché to suggest that Eibar would love the kind of line-up choices like that. But Eibar really would love the kind of line-up choices like that.
Saturday 18.00 CET - Eibar vs Real Madrid
Will Messi turn up for Sevilla sizzler?
LLL is not in the business of rational, level-headed analysis. Unless it comes to string theory. So it is going to jump on the “OMG Messi is unhappy!” bandwagon for want of anything better to do. Silly sensible heads will argue his comments to Olé that “I want to stay at Barcelona for the rest of my career, but you don’t always get want you want in life”, should be taken at face value. However, it is a heck a lot more fun to extrapolate on why Messi chose not to end his declaration at 'career'.
Was it a warning sign to Barcelona that he is not a happy bunny with the direction of the club? Was it a come-and-get-me call to the other big hitters of Europe? Or was it simply Forest Gump-style pondering on the chocolate box nature of life?
Saturday 20.00 CET - Barcelona vs Sevilla
Will David Moyes be able to pronounce any of his players' names?
Project David Moyes is going to plan. Huge training sessions lasting long past a Spaniard’s lunch break –and probably hacking through a second breakfast too –as well as barracks and commands in simplified English. There may be some problems, though. La Real’s Basque-sounding squad can be a little hard to pronounce. “RUN!” “STOP!” “MOVE!” “COME ON ZURUTT, ZURUTS... COME ON SONNY!” Moyes will be hoping that Asier Illarramendi doesn't return on loan, no doubt.
Saturday 22.00 CET - Deportivo vs Real Sociedad
SEE ALSOMoy Bueno! FFT's Spanish phrasebook - made specifically for David Moyes
Will the Valencia derby be just as frosty on the pitch?
When football directors miss out on the opportunity for comfy seats and free booze then you know something serious has happened. Sunday’s Valencia derby, that sees the men of Mestalla heading to Levante, will only have the VIP area half full. A falling out over tickets is the cause of a rift between two clubs that have never been the best of friends in the first place. Valencia were expecting Levante to offer €15 tickets to visiting fans as part of a long-standing pact. Levante claim that there is no such pact and will be charging €30, which is not overly pricey.
Sunday 17.00 CET - Levante vs Valencia
Will Eibar’s paint job go to waste?
It feels like an annual village fair being prepared in Ye Olde England –zebra crossings being painted in Eibar’s club colours, plenty of bunting being put out, buns being baked, window frames getting a lick of paint and people-friendly streets around the stadium. The littlest club that could is getting ready for the visit of Real Madrid, ready to get thrashed into the next century.
Eibar fans will be hoping that the game itself goes a little smoother than the process of buying tickets, though. A computer failure saw supporters having to endure a three-hour delay to get their Basque hands on entry to Saturday’s big game. In the end, 5,907 watchers will be squeezed into Ipurúa to see if the team can double the number of victories in their own ground to two. Forward Saúl Berjón is certainly talking a good game, claiming that Eibar can “cause problems for anyone”. LLL is not sure about that one.
Saturday 18.00 CET - Eibar vs Real Madrid
How long will Pedro León’s third-person phase last?
A footballer once mocked by José Mourinho, who pointed out that the midfielder was hardly Zidane, is back in the news again in Spain. To cut a very long story short, Pedro León had been dropped from the squad by Getafe to meet the confines of a salary cap. A judge has reversed the decision and allowed the footballer back in again, with an expectation that he will be able to take to the field against Villarreal.
The problem is that Pedro León has been engaged in a very public slanging match with Getafe president Angel Torres, who said that he would be quite happy if the player never pulled on the shirt of his club again. That may well happen, but that will not see the former Real Madrid man going anywhere until his contract runs out in 2016. “Pedro León isn’t going to be leaving Getafe, even if he is not playing,” announced the footballer, living in Big Booties Third Person Land.
Sunday 21.00 CET - Villarreal vs Getafe CET
featureFri, 21 Nov 2014 14:15:00 +0000Joe Brewin291131 at http://www.fourfourtwo.com